View in EDS

Revisiting Blocking Effects in Second Language Learning: A Close Replication of Ellis and Sagarra (2010b)

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Revisiting Blocking Effects in Second Language Learning: A Close Replication of Ellis and Sagarra (2010b)
Language: English
Authors: Kevin McManus (ORCID 0000-0002-7855-6733), Kelly Bayas, Katherine Kerschen, Yulia Khoruzhaya, Jingyuan Zhuang (ORCID 0000-0003-1148-9721), Alex Magnuson
Source: Language Learning. 2026 76(2):454-493.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 40
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Morphology (Languages), Cues, Verbs, Form Classes (Languages)
DOI: 10.1111/lang.70005
ISSN: 0023-8333
1467-9922
Abstract: We closely replicated Ellis and Sagarra (2010b), a seminal study that demonstrated clear effects of blocking in second language (L2) learning. In that study, English-speaking learners completed different types of pretraining about Latin temporal expressions (adverbs, verbs, none) to investigate how knowledge about specific cues influenced L2 outcomes. Results showed that the type of pretraining strongly influenced interpretation and production. To date, however, no replication has fully confirmed these findings, resulting in open questions about the nature and role of blocking in L2 learning. Unlike prior studies, we addressed these concerns without modifying the initial study's materials and procedures. Our close replication did not confirm the initial study's findings due to performance following verb pretraining: Pretraining on verbs did not bias attention to verbs in subsequent use. Theoretical refinements and methodological implications of this replication study are discussed, especially roles for prior experience, competition, and the linguistic properties of cues.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/jfpcv
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504693
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1504693
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Revisiting Blocking Effects in Second Language Learning: A Close Replication of Ellis and Sagarra (2010b)
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kevin+McManus%22">Kevin McManus</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7855-6733">0000-0002-7855-6733</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelly+Bayas%22">Kelly Bayas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katherine+Kerschen%22">Katherine Kerschen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yulia+Khoruzhaya%22">Yulia Khoruzhaya</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jingyuan+Zhuang%22">Jingyuan Zhuang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1148-9721">0000-0003-1148-9721</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alex+Magnuson%22">Alex Magnuson</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Learning%22"><i>Language Learning</i></searchLink>. 2026 76(2):454-493.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 40
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Morphology+%28Languages%29%22">Morphology (Languages)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cues%22">Cues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Verbs%22">Verbs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Form+Classes+%28Languages%29%22">Form Classes (Languages)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/lang.70005
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0023-8333<br />1467-9922
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: We closely replicated Ellis and Sagarra (2010b), a seminal study that demonstrated clear effects of blocking in second language (L2) learning. In that study, English-speaking learners completed different types of pretraining about Latin temporal expressions (adverbs, verbs, none) to investigate how knowledge about specific cues influenced L2 outcomes. Results showed that the type of pretraining strongly influenced interpretation and production. To date, however, no replication has fully confirmed these findings, resulting in open questions about the nature and role of blocking in L2 learning. Unlike prior studies, we addressed these concerns without modifying the initial study's materials and procedures. Our close replication did not confirm the initial study's findings due to performance following verb pretraining: Pretraining on verbs did not bias attention to verbs in subsequent use. Theoretical refinements and methodological implications of this replication study are discussed, especially roles for prior experience, competition, and the linguistic properties of cues.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: Note
  Label: Notes
  Group: Note
  Data: https://osf.io/jfpcv
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1504693
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1504693
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/lang.70005
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 40
        StartPage: 454
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Morphology (Languages)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cues
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Verbs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Form Classes (Languages)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Revisiting Blocking Effects in Second Language Learning: A Close Replication of Ellis and Sagarra (2010b)
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kevin McManus
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kelly Bayas
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Katherine Kerschen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yulia Khoruzhaya
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jingyuan Zhuang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Alex Magnuson
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0023-8333
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1467-9922
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 76
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Language Learning
              Type: main
ResultId 1